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Well, I did it-doing it...

8K views 45 replies 17 participants last post by  aquaman9 
#1 ·
Just moved aboard my '77 Catalina 30.
Picked it up in MarbleHead 2 weeks ago. Sailed her to the Sandwich
Boat Basin in weather that changed my mind about a Catalina's
sea worthy-ness. (Gusts to 40)
Laid over a day while the weather calmed down
and continued the next day in 10-15mph winds to Watch Hill in 14hrs. Got in at 1am. (Once Point Judith was in sight I could smell home)Very happy with the boat. Now I just have to do ...everything.
I am ecstatic. Love my cozy little cabin and walking the docks in the morning.
Cooking and cleaning, watching Netflicks on the laptop.
It's been plenty warm. Using a little electric heater and have a Dickinson
Newport propane ... but I'm not impressed with that at all.
I'm thinking of enclosing the chimney with another S.S. flu I've already aquired then mounting a fan in that to try to draw off some of that heat and force it to the floor. I still haven't insulated or wrapped her yet.
Looking for another sail or two before that while I'm waiting for my permanent winter dock.
I'll be the only liveaboard here this winter. That sucks a little and envy you guys with neighbors. I am good friends with the owner here (were in a bluegrass band together) and all the crew. That's one leg of the stool that got me here. The other two are: I spent a couple of weeks sailing Penobscot Bay with a friend on a CD 25 and was plenty comfortable with 2 of us.
2: I want to be where there's palm trees every winter.
It wont be this winter however.
Well, time to make some coffee and bacon & eggs on my little Origo
while the sun peeks through my portals.
I am LOVING it. I just need to make sure I'm warm and cozy in the bitter
cold this winter and it will be the best thing I ever did!!!

I'll be back with 100 questions.
 
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#2 ·
We love it too. Our old boat was in pretty bad disrepair, but it is coming along. We have been aboard now for 3 winters (NYC). We have two oil radiators, a big one in the main cabin and a little one under our Vberth. We put a heating pad at the foot of the V and we have a little fan heater to bring warm things up quickly. But, feet are a problem. My solution is a pair of ventless croc clogs. I just pop em on top of the oil radiator for a jif then there are super warm and stay that way, even when its 2 degrees outside. Have fun!
 
#15 ·
Thanks



Hi GIl and Thanks for responding so quick.
It's good to know there's someone out there.
I've got 2, 750-1500w ceramic heaters and an oil filled along
with the Dickinson. I should be able to do this with that equip.
Do you wrap in poly and insulate with bubble wrap or do you have
a different sys.?

Thanks again
Victor
 
#4 ·
Wow, congrats.

I hope you don't get socked with too much snow. Keep your raw water intake seacock closed so the snow doesn't push you down and flood your boat.

And hang the engine key from the seacock, so you don't forget to open it when you run the engine!

It sounds like a great adventure.
 
#9 ·
Welcome! Starting our 9th winter aboard, love it, and I enjoyed reading your account. Its nice to see our familiar life through your new eyes.
 
#10 ·
FANTASTIC! your living my dream :laugher ;)

Had a quick question for you; Im in the market for my first boat, and as the Catalina 30 is on my "short list" I was wondering what you meant by:
weather that changed my mind about a Catalina's sea worthy-ness. (Gusts to 40)
Is your impression now more or less favorable about the C30's sea worthyness?

BubbleheadMd said:
And hang the engine key from the seacock, so you don't forget to open it when you run the engine!
Dude! now THAT'S a good idea!
 
#14 ·
FANTASTIC! your living my dream :laugher ;)

Had a quick question for you; Im in the market for my first boat, and as the Catalina 30 is on my "short list" I was wondering what you meant by:

Is your impression now more or less favorable about the C30's sea worthyness?

Dude! now THAT'S a good idea!
I can't take credit for the key-hanging-on-the-seacock idea. That belongs to Sailingdog.
 
#11 ·
Grats Your getten it done :)

The flue is.... em... a Charlie Nobel ( not trying to correct you sir just trying to teach myself ;)) , I haven't seen his on boats yet but in Mich. in winter if one didn't have a heat box just above the stove and the flu from there it was a big wast of escapeing heat " the box " was like 12" X 12" X 12" with a bunch of 1" dia tubes all going in 1 direction with a fan behind one end of them blowing HOT air everywhere. ( completely sealed box with a flange on 2 ends to plum into flu er...Charlie Noble :))...

Thay worked so great I am amazed I haven't seen one on a boat yet ...
 
#21 ·
Hi HD



Thanks for that info. I'll add it to my commiserations.
I'm already thinking along those lines. Waiting for DN owners to chime in.
And thanks for the heads up on Charlie Noble.. and please correct me anytime. I can use all the help I can get.

We'll have to compare riding stories sometime. I've got at least 500K
miles under my butt. Most with a tent and sleeping bag on back.
I think it's prepared me well for my current endeavor.
At least I won't have to set up or tear down my wet tent and sleeping bag
in the rain and put on another 3-400 hundred miles with limited visibility
@ 70 mph. Been there, done that many, many times.
I believe it's lost it's charm. :)
Where as, I'm having as much adventure 10 feet off the dock as I'd
have to ride to Nova Scotia to have riding. Definitely a big paradigm
change here.

Thanks for writing
Victor
 
#12 ·
Just a note of caution.. flue gases need to be somewhat hot to work with the combustion process in the burner compartment. is the newport lined in a type of fire brick? (also for good combustion) You would not want the gases condensing into water and dripping back down into the stove.
 
#27 ·
Lol neg G's I hear ya bro ! At least flying still hs some thrill left in it.

Ya I agree the Rideing has lost something after 40+ years of it , no more thrill !

So for me going to sailing & the Sea is a natural move it's the only thingI haven't done to death yet .

Thans for the Catalina info , I had taken Catalina's off my list as I am used to haveing plenty of heft ( F4's/Harleys ) and over horsepowered machines this was my thinking .... but now I am going to look them over again ;)

Glad your haveing fun !
 
#28 ·
Bikes, boats and airplanes...

Lol neg G's I hear ya bro ! At least flying still hs some thrill left in it.

Ya I agree the Rideing has lost something after 40+ years of it , no more thrill !

So for me going to sailing & the Sea is a natural move it's the only thingI haven't done to death yet .

Thans for the Catalina info , I had taken Catalina's off my list as I am used to haveing plenty of heft ( F4's/Harleys ) and over horsepowered machines this was my thinking .... but now I am going to look them over again ;)

Glad your haveing fun !
Yup, 40+ yrs. There was lots less traffic and lots more testosterone
way back then. :) I can't stand traffic. I may as well be in my minivan.
If I lived a few less hrs. to a track I wouldn't even own a road bike.
It takes a days ride now to get to where it's exciting, fun and adventuress.
Where as I'm there as soon as I step on my boat.
There's going to be a lot of long faces when I break the news that
I'm hanging up by boots for a pair of top-siders. I've ridden with the same guys I used to ride bicycles with in grade school all these years.
No matter. I'll have 'em all on boats in a couple of years.
A couple of w/e excursions to Block Island and Marthas Vineyard
should get things rolling. They need a new adventure to keep 'em young.
They're up for it .... and sailings a lot cheaper than a fully acrobatic
airplane and a Cessna ain't a Ducati. If ya know what I mean.

Yea, I had ruled Cats out. Maybe I will again some day but I had this thing
out in weather I never want to see again and the boat took it in stride.
That combined with the famous comfort and storage of this thing is a no brainer for my particular situation. If your in the area you're welcome
to come down for a sail ...though I think we're looking @ next year
maybe.

Good talking to ya.

V.
 
#29 ·
Thank you NightWing , that post has been one of the best ( for me at least) gives me something to compare sailing to !

"I'm hanging up by boots for a pair of top-siders. I've ridden with the same guys I used to ride bicycles with in grade school all these years.
No matter. I'll have 'em all on boats in a couple of years."


Ya my evil plan also hehehehe...
 
#30 ·
Thanks, but I can't take credit for the key on the seacock handle idea either... I've recommended it, but learned it from my friend's grandfather, who I sailed with 30 years ago.
 
#31 ·
On your boat with the sun peaking in ... check.

Got through ride home with a story to tell ... check.

Netflix ... check.

Bacon ... check.

Sounds like a great start to me!

Great to hear that you've taken the plunge and are enjoying it! And in offseason! We hope to do the same in the upcoming year ... or two. For now, we'll just envy you.
 
#32 · (Edited)
What I wish I knew when I moved on was how unsuited my boat was for running 2-3 space heaters. I've overloaded my 30a connection, heated up and melted the shore power cable where it plugs in the boat. I had to run another 15a circuit from the boat breaker, to get another outlet.

If I was moving onto a new boat, I'd see how much it takes to trip the breaker, check all the plugs in outlets to see if any are warm, and pick up a 30A-15A adapter and 15a extension cord so I can use another 30A plug at the dock to rapidly supplement/replace heat on the coldest days when things go wrong.

You've made it this far in Mass so I guess you have a better start than I did.
 
#33 ·
Hey Nailbunny (can't imagine.. ?..)

Phew... just came in from my last minute bubbler installation and celebrating with beer, crackers and sardines....

I've been lucky with heat so far. It's been pretty cold for this time of year.
Down in the mid teens the last few nights. I mainly run 1 ceramic and 1 oil filled radiator type heater both on low most of the time. I just kicked both of them on high because I had the companion way opened with just the canvas over it
most of the day. I'll put one back on low soon and when I go to bed both will be on low. If I want it real cozy I'll fire up the Dickinson. I think I have heat to spare. But..... I keep from the head forward closed off and also the huge
1/4 berth and... I covered the ceiling with foil backed bubble wrap and half way down the hull with regular bubble wrap...especially the ports.
I've also covered the floor with temp. carpeting.
I think I'll be doing some more insulating. Cover everything plastic with the clear bubble wrap. The rest of the way down the hull and the large areas below knee level. Get ready for those 10 deg. and below days. AND I still have to cover the deck and cockpit with plastic. It looks like the temps are headed back to normal so I should be fine.

I had the girl friend on board for a couple of days and she was so warm and cozy she stayed an extra 2 days. !! :) We were useless for 4 days.
Netflix and Pinot and she wasn't going anywhere. Ha!

Well I hope this doesn't turn out to be the coldest winter in years just 'cause I bought a liveaboard. It's been absolutely wonderful so far. Even got out for a couple of late season sails. 6-7 good friends and beef stew, friendly wind,
plenty of beer. Wow next summers going to be great.

Where are you? What boat are you on? How long have you lived on board?
Thanks for writing. I wish there was at least one other live aboard here.
Then again, I wonder if I'll miss this solitude when the docks are teaming with
people in the summer.

Be good,
Victor
 
#35 ·
Blizzard.....

I finally had to go up on deck @ 7pm and have a look around.
Howling wind and freezing ice pellets but I had to check
the fenders and tie an extra line for peace of mind.
A hair raising "night after Christmas" right here on the dock.
Looking forward to this wind kicking down but it's suppose to
keep cranking through tomorrow night.
$#$#%!!!
 
#37 ·
Hey HD

Thanks for keeping an eye on me HD

Pretty sleepless 48hrs. behind me.
Nasty little low hung around the east end of
Long Island about 20 mi. directly south of me.
It delivered a steady 40mph with gusts above 50
for the last 2 days. I was up on the icy deck every couple of
hours for one thing or another. The main problem is I'm
tied to the floating docks in back but the bow is tied to
pilings. ?he tide fall is about 6 feet so in order to have enough
slack in the line the bow comes too close for comfort to the
leeward piling when it really gusts up. Then there's the problem
with my fenders popping up onto the dock and leaving my gelcoat to be chewed by the pressure treated wood.

Oh well. My little pal has moved off to the N. and E so I'll
get a good nights sleep and some real good weather coming in
so I can get ready for the next 6-8 storms due this winter.
Nor'easters frequently blow 70mph. I'm thinking maybe install a massive
bow cleat backed up by a huge 2x6, more fenders/ with bricks tied to them?
Ha!
yo ho ho!!!
 
#39 ·
Can't believe I missed this thread!

Great job living aboard.

I kept our Beneteau in the water this winter so I could sail. Put in a good run of sailing sessions too. Now we have 4 inches of ice in the "fairway" out to the entrance, so I'm in lay-up mode at the dock. (Cheaper insurance since I'm not sailing her for a defined period.)

Like you, there's never anyone around when I go out to sail. Saturdays, Sundays, evenings the place is deserted. I've only seen a very few people all winter at the marina.

Netflix and Pinot -- LOVE IT!!

Keep up the great work and stay warm. Visit us in Lake Montauk this summer.

Regards,
Brad
 
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